Deus Machina - The Last Grimoire (Inactive)

Game Master Rednal

Deus Machina – The Last Grimoire

An old tome rests on the table before you, tattered and worn. Markings in an unknown language cover the surface, and even as you look at it, the cover of the book seems to shift in front of your eyes. Nevertheless, the book feels… incomplete. Something is missing from it. You don’t know who sent the book to you – all you do know is that it was delivered to you by a courier whose face you never saw, and you were told to keep it safe. You’d almost forgotten about it, but this morning, you received a note – you’ve been asked to bring the book and arrive for a dinner at the Miskatonic University Library with Professor Freeborn, head of the Anthropology department. It’s Sunday, and tomorrow will be the first day of classes, so you haven’t actually met him yet. You don’t know what any of this is about… but you do know that if you want answers, you’ll have to attend the dinner and find them.

Character Creation Rules:

• I’ll probably pick 4-6 characters.
  
• Your character should be a student attending a modern, Earth-like University. If you wish to play a character below 18 years old, they should have a particularly high Intelligence score to explain why they’re there. Of course, older people can become students as well…
  
• 20 point buy (No obvious dump stats – 9 is the minimum for any stat, except for Intelligence, which cannot go below 10. Your characters should be reasonably competent overall. Exception: Playing a Young character, in which case you should apply the ability modifications from that template normally.)
  
• Level: 1
  
• Accepted Classes: Aristocrat/Commoner/Expert (No Multi-classing them)
  
• Human Only
  
• No special magic/powers. (Including items and powers granted through Feats)
  
• Two traits (Three if you add a drawback - reflavor the text as necessary)
  
• Alignment: Any Good/Neutral.
  
• Religion: Any real-world religion (or lack thereof; Atheists are also acceptable)
  
• Other: The best characters for this campaign will have at least some degree of curiosity about the supernatural, but do keep in mind that they are essentially normal humans… Class-wise, Aristocrats are from rich, wealthy families, Commoners are average folks, and Experts are geniuses, people with lots of real-world experience, and similar characters.

Magic

• All characters will obtain the ability to use magic.
  
• Magic is not normal within this world. All magic carries within it a special trait – those who don’t have an understanding of it will always disbelieve and rationalize anything magic-related shortly after they see it, assuming it to be some sort of trick, hallucination, delusion, or similar matter.
  
• Spells are not gained in the normal way. Rather than being innate or learned, Spells are cast solely through a Grimoire – a very special book capable of tapping into magic and mystery far beyond human understanding. Grimoires grow in power by obtaining Pages that contain knowledge of individual spells, and once the spells are known, they can be cast through the book at any time. These books also hide another secret, one that only those who attend the dinner will be able to uncover…
  
• Recharge Magic rules will be in effect (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/magic/rechargeMagic.htm) (For the purposes of these rules, and especially General Recharge Times, all PCs will be considered Sorcerers)
  
• All characters gain “Eschew Materials” as a Bonus Feat when they get their Grimoire. You are free to add this feat (and the spells of your Grimoire) to your character sheet when you make your character, but keep in mind that you cannot access any of that until you get your Grimoire in the story.
  
• Your Character Level will be your Caster Level.
  
• All Grimoires know the following spells in addition to whatever Pages they gain:
  0th Level: Arcane Mark, Detect Charm, Detect Magic, Dim, Light, Mage Hand, Read Magic
  1st Level: Magic Missile

Campaign

• This is primarily a roleplay, not a rollplay – and combat will exist, but there won’t be nearly as much as there is in some other types of campaigns. Also, keep in mind that you’re playing a character who is, essentially, a normal person to start with.
  
• Regular posting would be much appreciated. Every 24 hours is ideal, and I enjoy literacy, so don’t be afraid to roleplay well and write proper paragraphs. Profiles with significant spelling and grammar errors in the history/personality part will not be considered.
  
• No EXP. You will advance in level at set points within the story.
  
• Use of maps will be kept to a minimum. Use your imaginations instead!
  
• Don’t worry, there will be plenty of things beyond NPC classes… though you’ll have to play this campaign in order to find out what they are!
  
• Also, while there will be freedom of choice in how things are done, please keep in mind that this is very much a story-based campaign. By opting to play, you agree to follow along with the overarching part of the plot and require a minimal amount of railroading in order to get where you need to be – if you’re looking for a greater degree of freedom and the ability to go wherever you want and do whatever you want, you may wish to search for a different campaign instead. That said, I don’t want you to be an NPC that rolls dice for me, and I will strive to give as much flexibility as possible within the framework of the story. This game is about cooperative storytelling, after all, and you deserve the chance to tell your part.
  
• I like flavorful characters. Interesting ones are much more likely to be accepted than very bland, normal people. Don’t go too crazy, though…

Note: It will be a little while before the campaign begins; I’m waiting on a new computer that will be much more reliable than this one. If I don’t respond for several days during the course of recruitment, don’t panic – the problem is on my end and already being worked on. Also, this will be my first time GM’ing, though I’ve been roleplaying by post for quite a few years. XD Let’s see how this goes!

I'm interested and curious. My first thought would be an expert with a pile of knowledge skills, which raises the question of which knowledge skills would be available, etc.

@Sai Ling: All standard Knowledge skills are available, though some of them may be less useful than usual. For example, you shouldn't expect to be crawling through too many dungeons, and knowledge of nobility isn't terribly relevant for most people's lives (considering the general lack of nobles - even Aristocrats are just families with Old Money, not true nobles). If you do study them and put points in, though, I'll make sure you get at least some use out of your studies. ^^

Hey, I'd be interested in this game. I was thinking of a commoner who would call himself a buddhist or atheist (depending on his mood that day) if asked but was fascinated with pagan religions, particularly the idea that gods can manifestations of aspects of nature and types of weather. I'm thinking of a non-traditional charismatic character, think less car salesman more well spoken but reserved. As far as knowledge goes, he is that guy you had playing a trivia game with but his knowledge on any given subject probably wouldn't translate into a full rank trained in any subject with the exception of religion because I see him as the convert type, he lost his faith that he was raised and has been hopping through religions ever since.

And what would your character be studying in school? ^^ Since that is the primary setting, at least for now - knowledge will be fairly helpful to have. Thinking about that is probably a good plan for this setting.

Characters with religious issues could be fairly fun to have, too - particularly in regards to how their faith deals with their acquisition and use of magic. ^^ I try to be very open to character ideas within the set parameters, so you're certainly welcome to submit a profile sheet for consideration.

Would the character need to have a major? If so, could we get a little more info about this college? Is it a generic college setting where you could find anything to study (such as more vocational type majors that lead more directly to a career) or more of a university with a specific focus (the kind of place where you might find a lot of liberal arts and history major and people working on doctorates)? Is this a prestigious school?

As far a specific knowledge goes, I think it would be fun if we could work out a mechanic where the character would have a chance to very general knowledge about subject but not in depth info on a knowledge check but if that is too complicated then I suppose it could be just roleplayed. I'll start thinking about where I would put ranks in.

I have some interesting ideas as far as religion goes and I can send you a message about what I'm thinking, if you would like.

I know you said this is a modern, earth like school but does that extend to the rest of the setting? This would influence what my character would be there to study. Currently, I'm leaning towards him being there to learn something practical.

Having a major probably wouldn't hurt, though your studies won't be the focus of the campaign. ^^ Think of it more as... deep background, I guess? To help you know who your character is and what they want to do.

The University covers a wide variety of subjects, including History, Physics, Zoology, Geology, Chemistry, Anthropology, Archaeology, Engineering, Political Science, Psychology, Philosophy, Math, and English. The university is very research-heavy; practical things are done on a regular basis to test the research, but studies really are the main focus for most of the staff. No Computer Science, though. More looking back than looking forward.

Most fields of study will involve at least some of the more esoteric bits of knowledge - unusual mathematics, abnormal psychology, bizarre architecture... imagine an entire school with a reputation of "Brilliant but Eccentric" and you're on the right track for what it's like.

The school itself is sustained primarily through selling its research and wealthy donors, which means that they have very little interest in what others think or in conforming to the expected norms of a scholarly institution. They are fairly good at producing results, though. It also means they're quite capable of extending scholarships to students that interest them, and this is an acceptable part of the backstory for any character.

As for the rest of the setting, it's effectively modern-day. The University is old, though, and hasn't refitted itself with very much modern technology - the computers are slow, the phones are wired, and so on. ^^ Not a good place for somebody who'd want to be plugged in every moment of the day, but excellent for people happy to throw themselves into hours of studying and comparing research papers.

Okay that really helped. I was worried for a second because I was kind of thinking of a character who came from a poor family so he would be studying to get a job rather than studying for the sake of studying but I actually have a better idea that ties in with what I thinking of as far of backstory.

Basically, my character (who I still need to come up with a name for) would be there to study noetic science. It's a kind of pseudoscience that suggests that ancient religions contain a lot of practical knowledge that we have lost through either translation or the fall of the civilizations. It attempts to combine spirituality with science to bring about real-world effects. In this setting, I could see it being less pseudoscience, at least the school.

I see him, in his search for a better religion, finding these little nuggets of knowledge and he wrote a grand essay on his ideas about this a college entrance essay and every school told him to write something new or get rejected except the school the game is set in. It might even be fun if he didn't actually apply to this school but I think that would probably be at your discretion.

I'll go start working up a character sheet and trying to think of a name.

Noetic Science would be... Lemme do some quick research... Totally okay at this school. XD It has a lot of archives filled with little-known histories and the like, so it might actually be a very good place for anyone studying that sort of thing to go.

*Stamp of approval*

As for applications, Miskatonic is quite willing to seek out people they think would be good students (and often offer them those scholarships) - that, too, would be perfectly acceptable as a backstory if it's something you'd like to go for. ^^ It'll mesh well with the main storyline, too.

OK, here is my sheet as it stands.

http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=760170

Just stats at the moment, but I should get the skills in there soon. I might need some advice on the traits and feats.

I'm always happy to help. ^^ 'Course, we got plenty of both to choose from, and I will consider 3PP material for both. Where would you like to begin?

Also, is this http://www.d20srd.org/srd/npcClasses/commoner.htm where should be looking for info about the commoner class?

Well, I am mainly using Pathfinder rules... XD So you might want to stick with their version.

Try here: http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/npc-classes/commoner

Thanks that makes a lot more sense. The feats and traits are just a bit overwhelming without a class and I'm not entirely sure which ones would make sense with the setting and my background.

PCs will have no magical powers of any kind outside of what their Grimoires provide, so any Feats or Traits that grant those can be ignored. ^^ Magical Crafting is out, but modifications (like Metamagic) are okay as long as you keep in mind that you'll still need access to whatever you're modifying.

Feat-wise, you may want to start with things that improve Saves or Initiative. It's pretty hard to go wrong with those anyway, and I'll probably give the opportunity to re-train feats every few levels, so don't feel too stressed about making an irreversible choice. ^^ You'll have the chance to correct it if you don't like it.

As for Traits... just pick something that matches your background, I guess? ^^ Same basic rules apply - nothing should grant magical powers on its own, only modify what you'll already have, but it's true that there are a lot of traits to choose from. You're also welcome to re-flavor any trait you're going for to make it match a modern setting (if you were thinking of choosing a setting-specific one).

History of Heresy might be a fun place to start, considering your ideas about looking for other faiths. Aside from that, perhaps one that helps to codify your character's goals in studying? It's a place to start looking, anyway.

Is the university in America? If so what part of the country?

ok, how about Pantheist and History of Heresy for traits.
Still getting a bit confused with class stuff, sorry, should I get 1 or 2 feats? I'll be picking up Improved Initiative and I have some others in mind if I need more.

@Jelani: Massachusetts. Do note that we won't be using real-world maps or locations (except perhaps as references), though, since they won't be a major focus. ^^

@Caquix: Pantheist is... a racial religious trait, isn't it? ^^ Still, it works for the setting, and I think it'll be fine.

As for the number of feats, you should take two, since humans get a Bonus Feat at Level 1 (unless you take an Alternate Racial Trait that would remove it).

By the way, anybody who's worried about getting stronger over time shouldn't be. ^^ I actually have quite a lot planned for the characters, and I think you'll be pleasantly surprised once you see what your options are.

Ok, so here's more cohesive backstory that should help to explain some choices.

Alright so the idea right now is as follows: Walter Carter was a resident of Miskatonic, MA and is the eldest of four children - he has two younger sisters and a younger brother. His family has been very militarily oriented for the past several generations and he followed that trend enthusiastically, though his more studious mind practically forced him into an intelligence-based MOS. While enlisted, he continued his own studies on the side, initially planning on going through with a degree in Mathematics, though deployments preempted any attempts at seriously pursuing a degree.

Friends of his family were a major influence regarding his outlook regarding religion and the supernatural and he is a Wiccan by belief even though he has never taken part in the ritualistic portions of the religion. After finishing his term of service, he returned to his hometown and applied to Miskatonic University, where he is majoring in Theoretical Physics and minoring in Mathematics. During his off-time, he enjoyed applying theoretical principles to the established curriculum, convinced that his thoughts regarding Non-Euclidean Calculus would bring out a massive change in the world.
Edit: I can expound on this whole thing if you'd like, but this is just a basic rundown of his life.

So basic rundown:
Walter Carter
(NPC template) Expert
[Traits]
Home Port (Miskatonic) +2 Diplomacy to gather information at home
World Traveler (Sense Motive) +1 to Sense Motive and it is a class skill
[Feats]
Alertness +2 Perception and Sense Motive checks
Endurance +4 on Swim to avoid nonlethal damage from exhaustion, Con to continue running, Con to avoid nonlethal damage from forced march, Con to hold breath, Con to avoid nonlethal from starvation and thirst, Fort to avoid nonlethal damage from hot and cold weather , Fort to resist damage from suffocation; can sleep in light and medium armor without becoming fatigued

For Expert these skills are class skills:
Climb
Diplomacy
Intimidate
Know
Know
Know
Perception
Sense Motive
Survival
Swim

http://paizo.com/people/WalterGCarter

@GrinningJest3r: Seems like it's mostly in order. Which three knowledge skills did you want as class skills, though?

(If you're not sure, you're free to ask about how you can expect each of them to fit into this campaign. ^^)

Oops! History, Religion, Engineering. I've also got a point in Arcana and Planes even though they're not class skills. This is definitely the type of guy that would never discount the possibilitty that a D&D/Pathfinder type multiverse exists, which would give him the point in Planes, and those family friends all being Wiccan would give him a look into rituals and other "magic".

I did have a question, too. My int score allows me some other languages. What other languages will be available for a campaign like this?

I just realized... That list is comprised of the ten class skills I get for being an Expert, but because I get Sense Motive anyway from World Traveler, I'm going to add Know(Arcana) to the list due to his Wiccan upbringing.

(I wouldn't have double posted, but I can't edit the original five hours after the fact.)

Earth-based languages, of course. XD And on reflection, Common should probably be replaced with English...

"Old" languages (like Latin and Greek) might be more useful than ones still in use, though.

Alright so English as his base language, Latin, Slavic, Norse, and Hieroglyphics as his bonus. He's only ever taken Latin as a course of study, but during his travels, it has always been a minor curiosity to find the origins of other languages. They also go well with his propensity for studying world and culture history.

I'd be willing to trade Latin for Math if it would be more appropriate as a "language" hahaha.

I think that would depend on who you talk to, but... probably not for this campaign. XD

That aside, for those who've mostly or totally finished their character sheets, I'm thinking about running an introduction to the setting in the Discussion thread. ^^ Something like a tour of the school to help you get a better idea of the setting and what your characters are like before the main plot gets into gear. Anyone interested?

I'd be up for that.

Well, then. ^^ Those who have submitted a character sheet may head into the Discussion thread at any time!

Don't take it too seriously, either. ^^ This is just to pass the time and help stabilize the setting, and the little things aren't too important.

One question I forgot to ask, I noted that Walter was from Miskatonic, should I change that to Arkham?

Miskatonic is the university, Arkham is the (traditional) city. ^^ Yeah, you can change that if you'd like to.

Dotting for interest.

For traits, are we still bound by the "one per category" rule? Some of the combat- and magic- based ones seem like they'd be hard to use.

One per category is preferred, yes. Keep in mind that you're welcome to look at 3PP traits, too, not just official Paizo ones, so you should be able to find something that works for you. ^^

(Also, my computer's acting up worse than usual, and the new one still isn't in, though I'll try to keep posting as often as I can)

I have a general idea of where I'm going with my character, but since I'm on the background, about what year is this taking place in? I found that I was making a few references to real-life history in my backstory, and the question kind of hit me.

...2014? ^^ "Real" events aren't a huge part of the overall plot for this campaign, but I might make the occasional reference to advances in science, so it probably wouldn't hurt to assume that the world this is taking place in is relatively similar to our own.

One other thing I'd like to note is that advancement in this game will be relatively rapid, since it's mainly based around the story and I like to keep things moving forward. ^^

Dotting. I'll be submitting an Anthrosophical Anthropologist, related tu the Wentworths. I'll need the period in which we are playing to see if he's a forefather, family member or descendant. Will be an aristocrat

As mentioned above, you can assume it's more-or-less the modern day, with whatever edits are necessary to make the story work. ^^ Real events will have little or no impact on the story itself, but there IS a world outside of the school.

Actually, Arkham as a whole is a fairly isolated area. o.O Old buildings, not too much traffic, but somehow gets along in its own quiet little part of the world. Decent sized place, though, since it does support a University with a relatively high level of income.

Don't go too crazy though..

This is a Lovecraft inspired campaign. What do you expect ;)

Hmm... good point. Perhaps I should've said "Don't go too crazy yet." XD

That aside, you are expected to have an alignment, and you'll need a fairly convincing explanation if you want to me to believe that your character isn't evil...

Still working on the backstory, but here's what I have for the mechanics so far.

This has my interest piqued. How long will you be accepting submissions, GM Rednall?

Sounds really interesting. I originally rolled Jerry as an "Ordinary Hero" concept. I can adapt him easily for this (and will at home tonight!)

I'm thinking a farm-kid who wants to escape the routine of pig-farming but doesn't want the 'traditional' college experience. He is interested in psychology, especially experimental behavioral modification and a bit of developmental psych, but also has a background in natural sciences (because he's a farmer, after all!) He did well in high school but never really applied himself.

Jerry played Dungeons and Dragons in middle and high school - fully diving in to the role-playing experience to escape the boredom of life in a small farming town in Pennsylvania. He enjoys reading sci-fi and fantasy and likes to look for alternate explanations for the unusual occurances in the news. He's not a conspiracy-theorist, but he has a deeper understanding that not all things are as they sometimes appear.

Submissions will last a bit through when I get my new PC, so a few more days (at minimum). Quality of submissions is also a factor. Unfortunately, I can't make very long replies right now. >.<

@Jerry: I'm not sure that there's a huge deal of farming in the area, so he probably wouldn't be local. That said, admission without a scholarship is fairly expensive, so try to add in details that the school would like if you want to have a better shot. ^^ MU is definitely not a traditional school, so there is that!

Thinking it over, I'm changing Dodge to Improved Grapple. That fits better with Jerry's story =) Here's the updated crunch:

I feel like there's a joke in there somewhere, but I'm not sure if I should try to make it or not... XD

Everything seems to be in order, though!

You mean that it would be a nightmare come true for one of us to get a scholarship to Miskatonic (and really, even knowing what was in store, who among us would turn it down)? Or something else?